Safety attachment for elevators.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Patented May 30, 1911 SAFETY ATJIIAGR INKSTER' MENT FOR APPL ELEVAT 994,90039 IUATIoN FILED 00T. 21, 1910ORS :mms PETERS cv.. WASHING-rou n J. R. INKSTBR. SAFETY ATTACHMENT PoR ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 21, 1910.

Patented May 30, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WIT/VESSES 1HE Nonnls PETERS cu., wAsHmc'roN, n. c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT @FFTGE JOI-IN R. INKSTER, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR ELEVATORS.

' Application filed October 21, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. INKSTER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and Improved Safety Attachment for Elevators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: to provide an elevator car with means for locking the controlling lever therefor, which means are placed in locked position by the opening of the entrance doors to the elevator shaft to prevent the accidental rise and fall of the elevator car while receiving passengers; to simplify the construction of the mechanism for locking the controlling lever; and

,to so construct and arrange the locking mechanism as to adapt the same for employment in elevator shafts where the doors are operated to swing or to slide vertically or horizontally.

One embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an elevator cage shown in conjunction with the entrance door thereto, each having mounted thereon the coperating elements forming a locking mechanism constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention, said elevator cage being partly cut away to show the interior arrangementof the locking mechanism; Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, showing a fragmentary section of the elevator cage and the elevator shaft closure door, each having parts of the locking mechanism, and showing the same in its disengaged position, said door being closed; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the parts of the locking mechanism in engaged position, the said door being closed; Fig. 4 is a view showing the said door in its fully opened position, and the locking mechanism in the position to which the door throws the same to lock the controlling lever; Fig. 5 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale and in front elevation, showing a controlling lever for operating an electrically driven elevator, and the locking disk and holding bolt therefor, constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 6 is a detail view, on

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented May 36), 1911.

serial No. 588,236.

an enlarged scale, showing in side elevation the engaging device with which the elevator shaft entrance doors are provided.

As illustrated in the drawings, the controlling lever 11 has attached thereto and extended therefrom an arm 12. The arm 12 is arranged to rest in a peripheral slot 18 formed in a disk 13 when the said arm is disposed in the position where the lever 11 is thrown to the cutout of olf position on the controller 14. The disk 13 is pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft 15, and is provided with radially projected shoulders 16, 16 constructed and arranged to engage the stop pins 17, 17 dto limit the rotation in either direction of the disk 13.

The limit of rotation of the disk 13 as controlled by the shoulders 16 is such as to dispose the slot 18 in position to permit the exodus therefrom of the end of the arm 12. In the operation of the device the arm 12, when returned to the cutout position of the controller 14, renters the slot 18 and by means of the engagement therewith returns the disk to the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Should the lever 11 be thrown to the reverse position on the controller 14, the disk 13 is rotated in the direction opposite to that just described. In both extensions, however, the slot 18 is disposed in the position in which it is left by the arm 12 when the same withdraws from the said slot.

It is to lock the disk 13 in the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings to prevent the movement of the lever 11 to either of the starting positions on the controller 14, that there is provided a sliding latch bolt .19. The bolt 19 is suitably mounted in a guide casing 20, iiXedly attached to the frame of the cage A. rlhe bolt 19 is-raised and lowered by a crank arm 21, flxedly mounted at one end of a shaft 22. The shaft 22 is horizontally disposed and rotatively mounted in bearing brackets 23, 23. At the end of the shaft 22 opposite that upon which is mounted the crank arm 21 is fixedly attached a bevel gear wheel 24. The bevel gear wheel 24 is held in meshed engagement with a bevel gear wheel 25. The bevel gear wheel 25 is iixedly mounted upon a short shaft 26. The shaft 26, as shown in the drawings, is vertically disposed, andy is mounted in a bearing bracket 27. To the upper end of the shaft 26 there is Xedly attached a bracket gear toothed segment 28, the toothed end whereof is extended beyond the face of the elevator cage A to be engaged by a rack member on the entrance doors of the elevator shaft, to be rotated thereby as the said doors are opened.

By rotating the segment 28 the shafts 26 and 22 are rocked sufliciently to lift the bolt 19 from the slot 29, or to replace the same therein, as one of the doors be closed or openedy respectively. The rocking of the shafts and the arm 21 is transmitted as a reciprocatory movement to the bolt 19 by means of a pitman 30.

The segment 28 is locked into either of the eXtreme positions to which it is thrown by means of a spiral spring 31. The spring 31 is anchored upon an upstanding pin 32 extended from the upper surface of the segment 28 and the upper end of a hook arm 33 extended from the bracket 27. The bracket 27 is .so arranged that as the segment 28 is thrown to either side of its swing the line of pull of the spring 31 passes to the one or other side of the center of the shaft 26.

It is to rotate the segment 28 that there is mounted on the door B a rack section 34. The section 34 is formed to any suitable length, and is mounted in hinge links 35, 35. The links 35, 35 are pivoted at 36, 36 to the sides 37, 37 of a boX 38. rIhe boX 38 is fixedly secured upon each of the doors B, and preferably at the upper corner thereof, as shown in the drawings.

The section 34 is connected by means of a short link 39 to a lever arm 40. The lever arm 40 is pivoted at 41 on the door structure, and is provided at the forward end with an inclined surface to ride over the inclined surface formed on a block 42. The block 42fis iXedly mounted upon the jamb of the door or elevator shaft, in a location where, when the door B is closed, the inclined surface of the lever 40 rides over the block 42, lifting the link 39, as shown best in Fig. 1 of the drawings, to raise the rack section 34 on the hinge links 35 to a position where the rack is thrown back against the door.

When the door B is thrown to open position the lever 40 is removed from the block 42, which permits the same to drop and the rack section 34 to fall forward. It is in the forward position of the rack section 34 that the teeth of the rack engage the teeth of the segment 28. In the closed position of each of the doors B the elevator shaft is clear for the cage A to move up and down therein without danger of contact with the rack sections 34 and the segment 28.

The operation of the invention is as follows: When the elevator cage is stopped opposite any 0f the doors B, the operator throws the lever 11 to the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. In this position of the lever 11 the disk 13 is disposed with the slot 29 opening in direct line with the bolt 19, which at this moment is suspended above the said slot 29. The operator now draws upon the door B to open the same. During the first part of the movement of the said door the arm 40 is withdrawn from the block 42, permitting the link 39 and the rack section 34 to drop forward and downward. In thus dropping, the teeth of the rack section 34 drop into engagement with the teeth of the segment 28. In this position the segment 28 is rotated on its shaft 26 as the door is moved farther to uncover the door opening. The rotation of the shaft 26, by reason of the meshed gears 24, 25, rotates the shaft 22 and the arm 21 to depress the pitman 30 and the bolt 19 connected therewith. When the bolt 19 is seated in the slot 29 the rack section 34 passes out of engagement with the segment 28, and the bolt 19 remains in position to lock the disk 13 against further movement. In this position it will be seen that the lever 11 is irmly locked against movement in either direction necessary to lift or lower the cage A. In the position above described it will be observed that the danger of the operator starting the car while a passenger is entering or leaving the same, and thereby imperiling the life and limb of the passenger, is prevented. `When in the operation of closing the door, the rack section 34 reaches the segment 28, the said segment is rotated to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. In this position of the segment 28 the transmission mechanism operatively connecting the said segment and bolt 19 is moved to lift the bolt 19 from the slot 29, thereby liberating the disk 13. It will be noticed that as the door is finally closed, and during the last portion of the movement thereof, the arm 40 is lifted by the block 42, which lift of the arm 40 results in lifting the rack 34, which is moved by the links 35, 35 back against the door B and out of the path of the now stationary segment 28. In the position above described, wherein the rack 34 is laid flat against the door, it will be observed that the elevator cage A is at liberty to move up and down the shaft without danger of impingement of the extended segment 28 upon the said rack.

Vhile I have herein described the invention in conjunction with elevator cages employing electrical power and controlling devices peculiar to such installation, it will be understood that the mechanism is adapted for use in conjunction with other forms of starting devices or apparatus used in conjunction with steam, hydraulic or other mechanically operated elevators, it being necessary only that the device shall have a mean l Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An elevator system, comprising a shaft and closure doors therefor, a cage to travel in said shaft, and a cont-rol lever in said cage; a safety attachment, comprising a rotary member having peripheral slots formed therein, one of which slots is adapted to engage in holding relation the said lever when the same is disposed in position to arrest said cage; a reciprocated bolt mounted in said cage to engage the second of said slots when the other of said slots is in engagement with said lever; a rocking arm extended from the side of said cage adjacent said closure doors; a plurality of projections extended from said closure doors to impinge upon said rocking arm to rock the same when said doors are retracted; and transmission mechanism operatively connecting said rocking arm and said bolt to withdraw the said bolt from engagement with the said lever when said rocking arm is moved by said projections.

2. An elevator system, comprising a shaft and closure doors therefor, a cage to travel in said shaft, and a control lever in said cage; a safety attachment, comprising a rotary member having peripheral slots formed therein, one of which slots is adapted to engage in holding relation the said lever when the same is disposed in position to arrest said cage; a reciprocated bolt mounted in said cage to engage the second of said slots when the other of said slots is in engagement with said lever; a rocking gear segment extended from the side of the said cage adjacent the said doors; a plurality of rack bars extended from the inner surface of said doors to engage the teeth of said segment when the said doors are retracted; and transmission devices operatively connecting said Oear segment and said bolt to withdraw the said bolt from engagement with the said rotary member.

3. An elevator system, comprising a shaft and closure doors therefor, a cage to travel in said shaft, and a control lever in said cage; a safety attachment, comprising a rotary member having peripheral slots formed therein, one of which slots is adapted to engage in holding relation the said lever when the. same is disposed in position to arrest said cage; a reciprocated bolt mounted in said cage to engage the second of said slots when the other of said slots is in engagement with said lever; a rocking gear segment extended from the side of the said cage adjacent the said doors; a plurality of rack bars pivotally mounted on said doors, adapted to be extended from the side thereof to engage the teeth of said segment to rotate the same when the said doors are retracted; and transmission devices operatively connecting said gear segment and said bolt to Withdraw the said bolt from engagement with the said rotary member.

4. An elevator system, comprising a shaft and closure doors therefor, a cage to travel in said shaft, and a control lever in said cage; a safety attachment, comprising a rotary member having peripheral slots formed therein, one of which slots is adapted to engage in holding relation the said lever when t-he same is disposed in position to arrest said cage; a reciprocated bolt mounted in said cage to engage the second of said slots when the other of said slots is in engagement with said lever; a rocking gear segmentI extended from the side of the said cage adjacent the said doors; a plurality of raclr bars extended from the inner surface of said doors to engage the teeth of said segment when the said doors are retracted; a plurality of extension arms pivotally mounted on said doors and said rack bars to extend the said rack bars inward from said doors when the said rack bars are lowered; supporting means mounted on said doors operable by closing said doors for retracting said racks; and transmission devices operatively connecting said gear segment and said bolt to withdraw the said bolt from engagement with said rotary member.

5. An elevator system, comprising a shaft. and closure doors therefor, a cage to travel in said shaft, and a control lever in said cage; a safety attachment, comprising a rotary member having peripheral slots formed therein, one of which slots is adapted to engage in holding relation the said lever when the same is disposed in position to arrest said cage; a reciprocated ybolt mounted in said cage to engage the second of said slots when the other of said slots is in engagement with said lever; a rocking gear segment extended from the side of the said cage adjacent the said doors; a plurality of rack bars pivotally mounted on said doors, adapted to be extended from the side thereof to engage the teeth of said segment to rotate the same when the said doors are retracted; a plurality of lever arms pivotally mounted on said doors and connected with said rack bars; a plurality of lifting devices mounted on the structural frame of said elevator shaft adjacent the door openings, said devices being adapted to engage and lift said levers when said doors are closed; and transmission devices operatively connecting said gear segment and said bolt to withdraw the said bolt from engagement with said rotary member.

6. An elevator system, comprising a shaft and closure doors therefor', a cage to travel in said shaft, and a control lever in said cage; a safety attachment, comprising a rotary member having peripheral slots formed therein, one of which slots is adapted to engage in holding relation the said lever When the same is disposed in position to arrest said cage; a reciprocated bolt mounted in said cage to engage the second of said slots when the other of said slots is in engagement with said lever; a rocking gear segment extended from the side of the said cage adjacent the said doors; a plurality of rack bars pivotally mounted on said doors, adapted to loe extended from the side thereof to engage the teeth of said segment to rotate the same When the said doors are retracted; a plurality of lever arms pivotally mounted on said doors and connected With said rack bars; a plurality of earn faced blocks stationarily mounted upon the structure of said elevator shaft adjacent the said doors to engage and lift the said arms When said doors are closed; and transmission devices operatively connecting said gear segment and said 20 JOHN R. INKSTER.

Vtnesses FRANK L. MoCoY, MABEL N oLLMANN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents', Washington, D. C. 

